BBHSF 2019 Report to
the Community: IMPACT
Supporting a legacy of fine education…
“The Schools Foundation had a wonderfully positive impact on students throughout the district this year. With the help of longtime supporters, new friends, and our newest event the Uphill/Downhill Run, we funded programs for students within the district’s current initiatives ranging from STEM to mental health. We hope you will join us as we strive to expand our impact this coming year.”
– Julie Firestone, BBHSF President
IMPACT: To have a strong effect on something.
This is the Brecksville Broadview Heights Schools Foundation.
Our mission: “Supporting a Legacy of Fine Education.”
Our goal: IMPACT the lives of students and teachers in our school district.
We’d like to share with you our IMPACT over the past year, and how you can help us IMPACT the lives of students and teachers in our district this coming year!
SIP and SUPPORT Our Scholars 2019
February 21st, 2019 - 175 people attended a fun and casual night of food, wine and beer tastings, games and silent auction.
IMPACT: $14,500 towards classroom enrichment grants for 2019. The addition of ten local restaurants donating delicious tastes of the community brought a new flavor to this annual fundraiser.
“As a parent and an employee of the district, I have seen firsthand the impact the BBHSF School’s Foundation grants. I have enjoyed participating in fun events like the Sip & Support and the Uphill Downhill Run. After picking up a great weekend getaway at last year’s Sip & Support silent auction for my family, I’ll be looking for new ways to support the BBHSF grant program and have some fun while doing it this year.”
– Jen Dzina, parent
"Creekside Restaurant is proud to support the Schools Foundation Sip & Support event. The money raised at this fundraiser makes a huge impact on improving the learning environment for both students and teachers."
– Matt Harper
Owner of Creekside
“What a wonderful event to support a fantastic cause! We attend every year with my mom. I always bid on the graduation package because it seems the past couple years I have had seniors at BBHHS. This year my mom bid on a wonderful package from Creekside, dinner for eight! We will be taking the family when all are home from college! We love to attend to provide BBHHS students much needed scholarships. To see these young students receive the scholarships provided is truly a promising moment for our future!”
– Denise Stease
’83 BBHHS Graduate
SAVE THE DATE
Sip and Support Our Scholars 2020 will IMPACT
our community on Thursday, February 13th 2020 at 7pm
at the New Orleans Party Center in Brecksville
Classroom Enrichment
Grants 2019-2020
IMPACT: 13 classroom enrichment grants totaling over $26,000. We surprised the grant winners during the District convocation on August 20th.
Check out how these innovative teachers will IMPACT our students.
“The Refugee Experience was inspired by the BBHCSD and BBHSF goal to create citizens who positively contribute to our global society. In order to become lifelong contributors and learners, students must understand world events and their lasting impact. Thanks to the BBHSF Grant, our students (this year and beyond) will have the ability to read and analyze the refugee experiences, and to become critical and independent decision makers. Students will gain a greater insight into the lives of others, and ultimately, their own. Without the support of the foundation, this perspective changing unit would not have been possible.”
– Dena Wilson, BBHMS teacher
“Receiving this grant allows me to put current relevant literature in the hands of my students. While I hope that they will someday read the classics that I love, my goal is to get them to have a love of reading. This love of books needs to start now, so it will have an impact on them later in life. But my favorite reason to read is that it relieves stress- you can be transported to another place. I want my students to experience this, and I can thanks to the School’s Foundation.”
– Jennifer Lloyd, BBHMS teacher
2019 Senior Scholarships
IMPACT: 55 senior scholarships. $34,500 in gifts to graduating Bees to chase their dreams. 30 of these gifts honored the memory of loved ones through Named Memorial scholarships.
“I felt very honored receiving the Doris Barber scholarship. It was nice to be awarded not just based on academics, but also for athletics and leadership. I think athletics is a great way to help and improve mental and physical shape and that this award clearly displays the attributes of both of those. I hope my future endeavors honor Doris Barber’s memory.”
– David Bowler, Doris Barber Memorial Scholarship recipient
and University of Dayton freshman
Picture of David Bowler and Deby Cartwright (daughter of Doris Barber)
On June 1st 2019 the first annual Uphill/Downhill Run was held in Brecksville.
IMPACT: BBHHS students were instrumental in starting this event to promote improved mental health for students. We enjoyed a hugely successful first event, with 207 registered runners, over 2 dozen volunteers, and a dozen community sponsors and mental health vendors. $2500 was raised towards a new Mindfulness program in the district.
“It was brilliant to have an event that is typically about physical health highlight and support mental health issues and initiatives. Brain health and mental illness should be just as socially acceptable to talk about as physical illness. As parents of a BBHCSD student and members of the community we were happy to partner with as organization that is working to do just that in and along with our schools, where sometimes the pressure can be overwhelming and the stigma attached to needing help is prohibitive.”
– Jeff Ardo, owner
En Garde Deer Defense
“Being given the opportunity to be involved in the planning of the first Uphill/Downhill Run this year, I felt the community support of mental health and the strides being taken towards implementing support within our schools.”
– Jaden Kenner, BBHHS Senior
“I overall felt a sense of optimism and support as there was a large group of individuals cheering us on throughout the course. This encouragement was contagious. It gave myself and others (especially the kids) a reason to smile and to truly believe that they do have people “cheering them on” offering help, inspiration, and resources. In addition to this, the tables and conversation following the event was a nice way to learn about a wide variety of programs and organizations available for families.”
– Holly Thrasher, BBHHS counselor
Enriched Learning Opportunities -
Large Charitable Gift Initiative
BIG IMPACT: in 2019, the BBHSF received over $97,000 in large gift donations through three families. Working with the families to align this generous gift with district goals and their personal missions, here’s the IMPACT:
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Enhanced in-school programming for the special needs community
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After school exploratory science club
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Enriched ELA programming for the entire 7th grade
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An after school social club pairing special needs students with MS/HS mentors to strengthen communication, compassion and leadership skills
"For years we'd read about the grants and scholarships provided by the Schools Foundation but we never read about any assistance specifically dedicated to students with special needs. We were familiar with how few social opportunities were available for students with special needs and also realized how we'd spent years supporting the clubs/teams of two of our sons but nothing for Alex who loved being a BEE and had the same desire for fun and camaraderie. Upon his graduation we decided we wanted to provide funding in honor of Alex to teachers, club advisers or therapists in the district who had ideas but no resources to execute a social outing or creative group learning event for students with special needs. The Schools Foundation was the logical choice to help us make our vision a reality."
– Bernie, Heidi and Alex Karthan
Friends of the Foundation
FRIENDS of the FOUNDATION: Make your own IMPACT on the students of BBHCSD by volunteering on Foundation projects. Assist with Sip & Support Our Scholars, UpHill/DownHill Run and more.